Skip to main content

Turkish tunnel being built

The New Zigana Tunnel project in Turkey is currently under construction and is expected to cost up to US$1 billion in all. When complete this tunnel will measure an impressive 14.5km long. The two lane tunnel will connect Gumushane and Trabzon in the country’s north east, and will be located at an altitude of over 1,200m above sea level. The construction of the tunnel will replace the existing route over the Zigana Pass, which reaches an altitude above sea level of 2,032m. Once complete the new tunnel under
November 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The New Zigana Tunnel project in Turkey is currently under construction and is expected to cost up to US$1 billion in all. When complete this tunnel will measure an impressive 14.5km long. The two lane tunnel will connect Gumushane and Trabzon in the country’s north east, and will be located at an altitude of over 1,200m above sea level. The construction of the tunnel will replace the existing route over the Zigana Pass, which reaches an altitude above sea level of 2,032m. Once complete the new tunnel under the Pontic Mountains will cut the route by 8km and reduce journey times by around 20 minutes. The Zigana Pass is noted as a high risk route, with poor weather making it dangerous and particularly in winter periods. The new tunnel will boost safety and cut crashes. The construction of this new tunnel is expected to improve transport links for Turkey as well as for the Middle East, Iran and the Caucasus through to the Eastern Black Sea.

The existing Zigana Tunnel measures just 1.7km long and opened to traffic in 1977. It lies at an altitude of around 1,800m and is orientated in the north-south direction.

Related Content

  • Barrier innovation putting traffic safety and flow first
    April 3, 2014
    Cutting-edge barriers offering greater safety at the same time as limiting traffic disruption are proving in demand on busy world highways, as Guy Woodford reports Small footprint; minimum disruption after impact; lower labour costs; all said to be elements contributing to the growing popularity of the Trend terminal from Trinity Highway Products. This family of end terminals offers a range of safe and efficient solutions to barrier ends with quick and easy assembly and installation. Trinity claims th
  • Sela Tunnel in India inaugurated
    March 12, 2024
    The Sela Tunnel in India has been inaugurated by the country’s premier.
  • Boom in Asian infrastructure investment
    February 8, 2012
    Investment in China and India continues unabated, but other nations on the continent are eager to attract companies as Patrick Smith reports Asia is still booming despite the current economic crisis, and new infrastructure programmes are constantly coming on stream. Powerhouses China and India, with their double-digit growth figures and huge infrastructure plans (in scope and cost), are leading the way and are still magnets for businesses wishing to expand, both in terms of facilities and customers. But oth
  • New Albanian road tunnel project
    November 25, 2021
    Work is starting on a new Albanian road tunnel project.